butzel



(No Model.)

M. J. BUTZ'EL. MUFPLE FURNACE.

No. 246,939. Patented Sept. 13,1881.

Zbwaae s z v fw/veratarf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN J. BUTZEL, OF BOULDER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS I. BUTZEL, OF SAUGERTIES, NEW YORK.

MUFFLE-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,939, dated September 13, 1881,

Application filed September 17, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. BUIZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boulder city, in the county of Boulder and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IVIuffle-Furnaces; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description-of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawin g, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The chief object of my invention is a convenient and practical apparatus for the purpose of condensing and saving fumes which carry off valuable metalsas gold and silver in the process of roasting ores, especially such as contain tellurium, bismuth, antimony, sulphur, and other easily volatile substances.

My invention consists of a novel construction of combined muffle-furnace and condensand condensing apparatus.

In the construction of my new apparatus for roasting and retorting gold and silver ores I make a furnace with a suitable outer wall,

B, and place therein a muffle, A, which may rest on bars a, as seen in the drawing. This muffle is constructed so as to be closed airtight, except an escapepipe, E, through which the fumes are to pass off into a large condensing-chamber, F, the operation of which will behereinafterexplained. Themufflehasadoor, 0, provided with a small opening, 0, for inspecting the ore in the process of roasting, said opening being closed by a small slide, 1). From the top of the muffle an escape pipe, E, passes up through the outer wall of the furnace, and having a cock, 0, extends to the condensing-chamber F, the capacity of which is several times larger than the muffle, thus giving room for the gold and silver bearing fumes to circulate and cool without access of air or escape of the fumes.

The condensing chamber F is to be closed air-tight, and is provided with a removable top, G, having a clamping-bail, L, with thumbscrew I and rubber packin g g. This chamber also has a Water-pipe, H, provided with a stopcock, h, which is kept closed during the process of condensing the fumes and while the fumes are yet escaping from the muffle, The condensing-chamber is placed lower than the furnace, so that the hot air and fumes, having once escaped from the muffle, more readily collect in the condensing-chamber without tendency to return to the muffle.

Operation The muffle is charged with oresay fifteen hundred pounds, more or less and then the door O and slide b are closed and luted, when heat is applied. At the same time the chamber F is closed air-tight by means of cover G and cock it, while the cock cis left open also, a stratum of water-sa.y four inches in depth-is putin the bottom of the condensing-chamber, in order to absorb the metallic fumes, and thus collect the gold, silver, 850., escaping from the muffle. When no more fumes escape from the muffle (which is kept 'at cherry-red heatlthe cock eis closed and the cook a opened, thus admitting a copious supply of water through pipe H to complete the process of condensation. Now, the cover G may be removed and the surplus water drawn from chamber F by means of a siphon -tube, when the precipitated gold and silver will be found collected at the bottom of chamber F. Afterward the ore in the furnace may be treated in the usual manner for obtaining the non-volatile metal or other products.

I am aware that it is not new to connect a roasting-chamber and a condensing-chamber by means of a pipe provided with a stop eock; but

IVhatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The muffle A and pipe E, having the cock e, in combination with the condenser F, having cover Gr, clamp L, with water-supply pipe H,

provided with cook it, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN J. BUTZEL.

Witnesses:

DANIEL BREED, G110. F. GRAHAM. 

